10/14/2019
Spanning the course of 12 years, Kozloff’s sweeping debut fantasy, the first in the Nine Realms series, introduces a vast cast and an intricate universe. After a political betrayal, Queen Cressa of Weirandale is exiled. She joins her husband on the high seas, working to wipe out the threat of piracy as part of her long-term plan to retake the throne, and sends her eight-year-old daughter, Cerulia, into hiding with a common family who know the child as Wren. As the years pass, Wren develops the ability to communicate with animals and Cressa’s quest takes a tragic turn. Meanwhile, Weirandale’s regent, Matwyck, searches for the missing princess, seeing her as a threat. Elsewhere, a group of zealots from the kingdom of Oromondo invade their neighboring countries, leading to a guerilla war. This series opener is literary, ambitious, and epic in scope, but it is unclear how the disparate plot threads will connect, and the novel ends just as the story picks up. Readers will be left hooked but unsatisfied. Agent: Nell Pierce, Sterling Lord Literary.(Jan.)
Praise for the Nine Realms quartet a binge reading experience that's worth our time. ”—Fantasy Faction feminist as f*** .” Greta Johnsen, host of Nerdette podcastPraise for A Queen in Hiding an ambitious saga of magic, intrigue, and heroism.”—Booklist A new series starts off with a bang .”—Kirkus epic in scope .”—Publishers Weekly makes you impatient for more .”—BookbubBreath of Earth “Sweeping in scope and unabashedly epic—Kozloff has written an instant classic, here. I can't wait for the next one.”—Auston Habershaw, author of Iron and Blood Library Journal “Rich textured world-building, fully realized characters and a story that had me turning pages late into the night. I’m hooked and can’t wait for the next book.”—Sally Wiener Grotta, author of The Winter Boy
01/01/2020
DEBUT When Queen Cressa of Weirandale is betrayed in a political conspiracy, she is exiled. She joins her husband on the seas fighting pirates as a way to win back her country, placing her eight-year-old daughter, Cerulia, with a commoner family who call her Wren. Weirandale's Lord Regent Matwyck continues to search for the missing royals, hoping to prevent their possible return. As the years pass, Wren's talent to talk with animals grows, but she continues to stay hidden from Matwyck's search. Queen Cressa's quest to cull the pirates ends in tragedy, and the country of Oromondo begins to invade its neighbors as no queen with talent sits upon the throne. VERDICT While the worldbuilding is vast and the characters complex, the multiple points of view may cause some to get lost in this debut series opener. This is the first in a projected quartet that will publish through April 2020, giving readers hope for further action-filled plots and disparate story lines to come together.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton
Narrator Imogen Church’s rich voice pilots listeners through Queen Cressa and Princess Cérulia’s quest to lead their kingdom through political turmoil and war. Church capably meets the challenge of a diverse group of characters, embodying them and pivoting from one point of view to another from chapter to chapter. In doing so, she ensures that listeners remain fully immersed in the story. As Cérulia’s unique talents manifest, Church dynamically increases the bravery and commitment in her voice. Magic, politics, and war are smoothly traversed, leaving listeners feeling this story even after it ends. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
FEBRUARY 2020 - AudioFile
Narrator Imogen Church’s rich voice pilots listeners through Queen Cressa and Princess Cérulia’s quest to lead their kingdom through political turmoil and war. Church capably meets the challenge of a diverse group of characters, embodying them and pivoting from one point of view to another from chapter to chapter. In doing so, she ensures that listeners remain fully immersed in the story. As Cérulia’s unique talents manifest, Church dynamically increases the bravery and commitment in her voice. Magic, politics, and war are smoothly traversed, leaving listeners feeling this story even after it ends. J.O. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
FEBRUARY 2020 - AudioFile
2019-09-30
Queen Cressa of Weirandale is worried about her 8-year-old daughter, the "princella" Cerúlia. The people of Weirandale worship a water spirit, Nargis, who grants each queen a special gift called a Talent. Cressa herself is able to meddle with memories, for example, and her mother possessed supernatural strategic abilities that served her well in battle. Cerúlia, however, appears to have none, because surely her insistence that she can talk to animals is only her young imagination running wild. When Cerúlia's many pets warn her about assassins creeping into the royal chambers, the girl is able to save herself and her mother. Cressa uses her Talent, which actually extends to forcing anyone to tell her the truth, to root out traitors among the aristocracy, led by the power-hungry Lord Matwyck. Fearing for her daughter's life and her own, Cressa takes Cerúlia and flees. Thinking Cerúlia will be safer away from her mother, Cressa takes the girl to a kind peasant family and adjusts their memories so they believe Cerúlia is their adopted daughter. Kozloff's debut is the first of four Nine Realms books, and Tor plans to publish them over just four months. Luckily, the series opener is a strong start, so readers will be grateful for the short wait before Book 2. Kozloff sets a solid stage with glimpses into other characters and nations while keeping the book together with a clear, propulsive plot.
A new series starts off with a bang.
